Aerial bomb



Sept. 28, 1943. H. SMITH AERIAL BOMB I Filed Dec. 22, 1941 flail/4rd Sim2% IN V EN TOR.

A'I'I'URNIYI Patented sep t. 2a, 1943 PATENT creme 33 361 if" if; .AERIALBOMB I i I Howard Smith, Bryn'Mawr, Pa. Application December IZZ',1941, seal-a. 4 4,042 2-o1aims. 1(o;1-.102 2) p v My invention relatesto aerial-bombs and has onto the shank 34, whichholds the percussion uamong its objects and advantages the provision cap imposition. IThe'bomb is then ready for use. of an improved shrapnelbomb. 1 The cup42 opens'downwardly and traps air v In the accompanying drawing: Itherein when the cup strikes waterymud, sand Figure 1 is an elevationalview of a bomb in and other soft or loose earth formations to drive aordan ith my i ti the firing pin-40 into engagement with the perFigure-2 i top plan View; d j cussion cap 32' and explode the bombbefore the Figure 3 is a sectional View along'the line 3-3 a tpenetrates the S t tar et-- This the bomb of Figure 2. V Y f 1 iscausedto explode above surface. 1 In the'embodiment selected forillustration, I n exploding the m a V t grOundbr make'use of acaststeelshell H] of elliptical con- 'Water surface, the b q a fi e p yI tour when viewed according to Figures 1- and 3. t. {strafing D PO T0Secure breaki 5 3 1 3 Threaded bores I2 and 14 are provided in the Shelli smallfragmentsi 151161511611 is p o v e -zf ends of the shell Itcoaxially of its major axis. withamultiplicity fer v 54 arranged p lly Aplug i6 is threaded through-bore l4, Which'plug about the; greaterjoutside' surface of. the shell. is provided withstabilizing van es l8for effecting {Thus g s ll d r pn a s t e vertical gravitation of thebomb when released 1n d t n ve a -m from an aircraft. l Bore! is ofsufiicient size to permit the shrapwe 7 Within the bore I2 is threaded afitting 2n havnel tob ip e p h t facilitate filling ing a shank 22threadedly connected in'the'bore of e h 1 I v I I r .s 2g is providedwith an axial bore 24' I Without further elaboration, the foregoing willv, into which one end of a stick 26,0fexplosive is so fully11111517173433 my v n n that thers may, inserted. The explosive 26 issurrounded by by applying current k o efle y adapt h i shrapnel 28,which completely fills'the seen 110. Same q u under o s Con f v e- I iBore 24 communicates with :a bore 30 for the 125 lm I I Q 1 reception ofa percussion c3931 u I H I H v 1. aenal bomb comprlslng ashell havmg aThe fitting 20 includes asecond threaded shank mgltlphclty 9 hues i tformed therem? i 34 for connection with a coupling member 36 hav- Samsheu'beltlg ml iw i first. and l if a ing a bore 38 for slidably guidinga firing pin threaded openmgsm opposlte ends therenf, a plugv To theouter'end of the firing pin 40 is connected- .30

threaded into the first opening and provided with a stabilizingvan'e, afitting having a first shank a cup-like impact member 42through themedithreaded 7 intothe second opening, said shank, um a scrfew 1- beingprovided with aneuzial bore, an explosive v 1 v y -F1gure 3 luustmtes.the s p Ml aS. belt! material in stick form having one end' securedprovided i a recess through hf 35 in said axial bore, said explosivematerial ex-: tended a pm. Dressed througha b 111 tending inside said'shell, shrapnel filling said v coupling member 36. PmAB constitutes anabutshell and .sfirroundinga explosive aerial m for one end Ofcompression r g 59 v said fitting being provided withasecond' threadedhaving its other end'abutting the cup 42 o I g shank and having a secondaxial bore communi- I many holding the rin P in q i a 4,0 cating withsaid first axial boreja percussion cap Figure 3. e v i f in said secondbore, a couplingme'mber threadv Slot titis of sufiicient length topermit thefir: V edly-connectedw'ith'said s o shank and I mg Pin 49 bdrwen engagement w t gaging the-percussion cap to hold the latter in vpercussion cap 1 2 when the cupAZ strikesits tar- "position, id li gmemb r b in pr vid d v. y i get. Pin 48 also limits the relative outward45 'with a. bore, a firing pinslidable in said bore, pin 1 I movement ofthe firing pin 41! with respect to'the I 'means acting on said couplingmember and said coupling member 35. A shoulder, 52 on the coufiringpintolimit outward movement of the i-lr-R,

pling member 35 holds the'percussion cap 32 in ing. pin,a spring actingonthe coupling member position. 1 I v v and the fir ng pin forurgingthe' latter outwardly In operation, the percussion cap 32 neednotbe' to hold the firing pin spacedfrom the percussion placed inposition until the bomb is loaded'on cap, and a target-engagingcupattachedto-saidl: the aircraft. This feature providesa bomb which i vfiring pin and opening the direction of v the may be handled and storedwith a greater degree target." v I r e i of safety. When the percussioncap 32 is slipped 2. -An aerial bomb comprising a shell having a intoposition, the coupling member is threaded 5 multiplici1 O lines offracture formed 1 6 -1' explosive material in stick form having one endsecured in said axial bore, said explosive material extending insidesaid shell, shrapnel filling said shell and surrounding said explosivematerial, said fitting being provided with a second threaded shank andhaving a second axial bore communicating with said first axial bore, a.percussion cap in said second bore, a coupling member threadedlyconnected with said second shank and engaging the percussion cap to holdthelatter in position, said coupling member being provided with a bore afiring pin slidable in said bore, pin means acting on said couplingmember and said firing pin to limit outward movement of the firing pin,a spring acting on the coupling member and the firing pin for urging thelatter outwardly to hold the firing pin spaced from the percussion cap,and. a target-engaging means attached to" said firing pin being of sucharea as to actuate the pin when hitting water or soft earth.

HOWARD SMITH.

